Shree Swāmi Vibhūtī Sākshātkār

‘Bhārat’s’ father, late ‘Annā’ had given him seven and a half lakh of rupees. ‘Bhārat’ donated that entire amount towards ‘Shree Dnyāneshwar Māuli’s’ funds. At that time I requested ‘Bhārat’ to keep some of the amount aside for his old age and asked him as what arrangements he had made for his retirement. ‘Bhārat’ immediately retorted saying, "My Pal, why should I worry when you are there for me!". I was taken aback with this answer of his. We were such good friends that he always addressed me as ‘Gadyā’ (A close Pal; Partner: A terminology in Marathi Language). I lost a friend who used to addressme me as ‘Arey Gadya’!. One day when the Vibhūti was emerging from the photograph ‘Shree Swāmi Samarth’, ‘Bhārat’ sat in front of ‘Shree Swāmi Maharaj’ for quite some time. Same day ‘Shree Swāmi Samarth Aarati’ and ‘Sewa Mandal’ (religious groups) had organized an "Aarti" Programme. ‘Mr. Damle’, ‘Mr. Shetar’ and many other ‘Shree Swāmi’ devotees from the ‘Sewa Mandal’ had come to our house. Bhārat used to adore ‘Pasāyadān*’ (A famous prayer of ‘Shree Dyāneshwar Māuli’). He used to always tell us that while reciting the ‘Pasāyadaan’, one must always close one’s eyes and visualize ‘Shree Dnyāneshwar Mahāraj’s Samādhi’. In memory of ‘Bhārat’, we all the Shree Swāmi-bhakas recite ‘Pasāyadān’ every Thursday.

‘Guru’s’ work at Guru’s lotus feet. In real life it actually happened that way. On 3^rd February, Monday, "Māgh Shukla Trutiya" (A lunar phase, according to Hindu calendar or almanac), when he was at the lotus feet of ‘Shree Guruvarya Sākhare Mahārāj’ ‘Bhārat’ met with an accident and died. He was only 52 years old when this happened. His devotion for his Guru was genuine and it was put to test and he did pass in this examination. His desire of dying at his Guru’s feet did come true.

Many people visited me to offer their condolences, as I had lost my best friend. The number of people who visited us was so large that our shop as well as the ‘Shree Swāmi Darbar’ was full. It is indeed a rare phenomenon where so many people come for condolences, just because one’s friend has passed away.